Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), famous for its desired nutritional and medicinal values, could accumulate approximately 20% (w/w) seed oil dominated with unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). However, the mechanism of oil biosynthesis and metabolic regulation in its seeds remains poorly understood. Here, storage oil profiles and transcriptome of okra seeds at different developmental stages were analyzed. Seed oil accumulated at a high rate during 21 to 28 days after flowering (DAF). Total of 136.6 million clean reads were obtained and 109,171 unigenes were assembled from the seed transcriptome. Differentially expressed genes among three developing stages of seeds were functionally annotated into the storage lipid metabolism pathway. Comparative analysis was performed for structural genes and transcription factor genes that participate in fatty acid biosynthesis, triacylglycerol assembly, oil body formation, and triacylglycerol degradation. A complex regulating network was built accordingly. Additionally, expressions of 12 key functional genes responsible for okra oil accumulation were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), demonstrating that RNA-sequencing data were reliable. This study will facilitate further investigation of molecular mechanism responsible for unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and oil accumulation in plant seed, providing valued reference for creating new okra varieties with better lipid composition and high oil yield.

秋葵 ( Abelmoschus esculentus)，以其所需的营养和药用价值而闻名，可以积累大约 20% (w/w) 的种子油，其中以不饱和脂肪酸 (UFAs) 为主。然而，其种子中油脂生物合成和代谢调节的机制仍知之甚少。在这里，分析了不同发育阶段秋葵种子的贮藏油谱和转录组。种子油在开花后的 21 至 28 天内（DAF）以高速率积累。总共获得了 1.366 亿个干净读数，并从种子转录组中组装了 109,171 个 unigene。种子三个发育阶段之间差异表达的基因被功能注释到储存脂质代谢途径中。对参与脂肪酸生物合成的结构基因和转录因子基因进行比较分析，三酰甘油组装、油体形成和三酰甘油降解。一个复杂的调节网络也随之建立起来。此外，通过实时定量 PCR (qRT-PCR) 检查了负责秋葵油积累的 12 个关键功能基因的表达，证明 RNA 测序数据是可靠的。本研究将有助于进一步研究植物种子中不饱和脂肪酸生物合成和油脂积累的分子机制，为创造具有更好脂质成分和高产油量的秋葵新品种提供有价值的参考。证明 RNA 测序数据是可靠的。本研究将有助于进一步研究植物种子中不饱和脂肪酸生物合成和油脂积累的分子机制，为创造具有更好脂质成分和高产油量的秋葵新品种提供有价值的参考。证明 RNA 测序数据是可靠的。本研究将有助于进一步研究植物种子中不饱和脂肪酸生物合成和油脂积累的分子机制，为创造具有更好脂质成分和高产油量的秋葵新品种提供有价值的参考。